Leif and the Fall review

Leif is a leaf. A worried leaf. It is autumn, and Leif is afraid to fall. "All leaves fall in the fall," say the other leaves. But Leif is determined to find a different way down, and with his friend Laurel, he uses the resources around him to create a net, a kite, a parachute in hopes of softening his landing.(goodreads summary)

 

 

 

 Leif knows that in Autumn leaves will eventually fall from the trees.  He is so afraid of falling and possibly hurting himself that this fear makes him worry even more.  It doesn't help when the other leaves are always telling him "all leaves fall in the fall".  With the help of his kind friend Laurel, he comes up with several ideas that might help catch his fall when his time comes.  But each one just doesn't seem to be the right answer to his problem.   After a few failed attempts, his collection of discarded ideas give him an unexpected surprise landing.  

Finding creative solutions and having persistence to help solve a problem is the theme of this Autumn tale.  Having a friend like Laurel showing kindness and offering encouragement is also an important part of Leif's story.  While the other leaves taunt him, Laurel's reassuring calmness was a plus for Leif's worries.  When the wind becomes stronger and Leif shivers, I liked how Laurel gave him a squeeze showing empathy for him.  The illustrations show expression and emotions and are in soft greens and browns, then gently turn to golds as Leif gets ready for his fall.  This is a good read for a fall and windy day about determination, thinking creatively and never giving up on your ideas.  It also has a subtle message of kindness, empathy and being a good friend when needed.  I think this is a "just right book" for ages 5-9.~

 

Title:  Leif and the Fall

Author:  Allison Sweet Grant & Adam Grant, illustrations by Merrilee Liddiard

Pub date:  September 2020

genre: picture book

Hardcover, 32 pgs.

Nixie Ness Cooking Star review

 

Best friends Nixie and Grace spend every afternoon together . . . until Nixie's mom gets a new job and Nixie must attend the after-school program, without Grace.(goodreads summary)

 

 

 

 

 

Third grade best friends Nixie and Grace spend every afternoon together after school at Nixie's house.  Nixie's mom tells the girls she has taken a new job and she will have to attend the after school cooking camp program while Grace will be staying with another classmate, Elyse.  Nixie dreads going to the cooking camp without Grace and begins to worry that she is loosing her best friend to someone else.  While tying to come up with plan after plan to win her over, each one fails and Nixie ends up turning things into a big mess!  She may even loose Grace's friendship forever. 

This is a wonderful chapter book for elementary aged kids about friendships, feelings and everyday school life. They will find the story relatable to their own daily situations as the author does a nice job writing from a young child's perspective.  Nixie is so fixated on Grace and Elyse's bonding that she ignores any opportunity of new friendships for herself with her cooking camp group.  There are several new and nice classmates but she is so jealous of Grace and Elyse that she cannot enjoy the camp for all it has to offer her.  She is having a difficult time with the sudden changes coming all at once which kids can struggle with at this age group. With her "Get Your Best Friend Back" plan, each one backfires on Nixie making her feel sadder and alone.  Nixie even ends up saying something very mean to Grace that may end their friendship but learns the meaning of  giving a sincere apology.  There are illustrations throughout the chapters giving visuals of the cooking camp, Nixie's feelings and of the many diverse characters which adds nicely to the story.   Included at the end is a recipe of Nixie's favorite Morning Glory Muffins that kids might be inspired to bake after reading how much fun cooking can be.  This is the first in the After-School Superstars series with other characters from this story branching out having books about their own after school activity experiences.  There are a total of four books so far and I hope more characters will follow. These stories can also teach younger readers about new ideas, social mistakes, consequences, empathy and problem solving.  I think this is a "just right book" for ages 7-9.~

Title:  Nixie Ness Cooking Star

Author: Claudia Mills, illustrated by Grace Zong

Publisher date: June 2019, Margaret Ferguson Books

Genre: chapter book

Hardcover, 118 pgs.

 

 

 

 

Big Shark, Little Shark and the Spooky Cave review

 

Just in time for Halloween comes a spooky, funny early reader starring Big Shark and Little Shark!(goodreads summary)

 

 

 

 

 

Big Shark is scared by the spooky cave but not Little Shark.  When brave Little Shark enters the cave, Big Shark decides to follow.  The pair find a few exciting things in there with a fun twist at the end.   With large print and easy words, early readers will find this a fun book to read on their own.  With picture clues and rhyming text children will be able to figure out what comes next.  Big Shark realizes that the spooky cave is not as spooky as he thought.  It has a surprise for him at the end making this a fun Halloween read! Be sure to try the other Big Shark, Little Shark Step into Reading books too.  I think this is a "just right book" for ages 4-6.~

Title:  Big Shark, Little Shark and the Spooky Cave

Author:  Anna Membrino

Pub date: July 2021, Random House Books for Young Readers

Genre:  early reader

Hardcover, 32 pgs.

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Little Ghost who was a Quilt review

 

 When you're a quilt instead of a sheet, being a ghost is hard!(goodreads summary)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Being a quilt ghost has its challenges and in this story our sweet character learns that it is ok to be different and it might give you a special outcome you didn't expect.  He doesn't know why he is a quilt ghost since his family and friends are sheet ghosts.  It is hard for him to fly around because he is too heavy to lift off.  The little quilt ghost feels sad and doesn't like being different.  When his favorite holiday Halloween arrives, he plans on draping himself over a chair on a porch putting him right in the center of the action during trick-or-treat.  But something unexpected happens that helps him embrace who he is .  

This was a sweet story about the importance of being yourself and finding a place where you fit.  The pencil illustrations are drawn in black and white but there were touches of color such as the blue hues of the patchwork quilt or bits of orange scattered on various pages adding subtle color.  It is a cute read for the Halloween season.  The story could also prompt discussion about feeling different and how to overcome  such feelings.  It offers a nice message about accepting who you are and that each one of us has a unique purpose.  We just need to have the strength to find it and believe in it.  

 

Title:  The Little Ghost who was a Quilt

Author:  Riel Nason, illustrated by Byron Eggenschwiler

Pub. date:  September 2020, Tundra Books

Genre: picture book

Hardcover, 32 pgs.